Historian Dunkley argues that the concept of freedom in the written history of the Caribbean and the Atlantic world has never been examined from the perceptions and experiences of the enslaved. Freedom is usually defined as an external condition; Dunkley argues that the feelings and consequent actions of individuals proclaim freedom despite enslavement. These feelings, convictions, and behaviors influenced the larger societies in which slaves lived. An important example is education. Clerics and mission societies provided religious and literacy instruction to make better slaves. Those educated, however, achieved deeper understanding of the wider society and the ways in which they could undermine its power. Similarly, the marriage of enslaved persons by Anglican clergy asserted freedom because slave marriage was illegal and presented a host of legal and financial problems to slaveholders. Slaves resist, as is well known, but Dunkley focuses on resistance as a consequence of internal conviction and defines this conviction as freedom.

Readers may agree or not. This well-written book, based on both archival and published sources, has a place in all academic libraries. Summing Up: Highly recommended. All levels/libraries. conviction as freedom. Readers may agree or not. This well-written book, based on both archival and published sources, has a place in all academic libraries. Summing Up: Highly recommended.

All levels/libraries. conviction as freedom. Readers may agree or not. This well-written book, based on both archival and published sources, has a place in all academic libraries. Summing Up: Highly recommended. All levels/libraries. conviction as freedom. Readers may agree or not.

This well-written book, based on both archival and published sources, has a place in all academic libraries. Summing Up: Highly recommended. All levels/libraries.